A developer has filed plans to build a shopping plaza on Washington Street (Route 53) in Hanover.
The plaza would be less than a mile from Hanover Mall and would be anchored by a 130,000-square-foot Target department store.
"It would be the largest single store in town," said Town Planner Andrew Port.
Proposed by Hanover Washington LP on the site of the former Decathlon sporting goods store, at 1207 Washington St., the plaza would be called Washington Street Shopping Center. It also would feature an additional 100,000 square feet of retail, office and restaurant space on the 40-acre site.
Before construction begins, the developer must get a site-plan special permit from the town, as well as other permits from the board of health, conservation commission and the state, Port said.
The planning board met with the developer for the first time on Monday and will review the plans in the coming months, Port said.
The parcel is located within the town's aquifer protection district, and close to the Third Herring Brook and Hanover and Norwell public wells.
As a result, Port said the developer has been asked to return with plans to reduce the amount of paved area in the plaza to cut back on the potential for runoff.
"The goal with this is to reduce the environmental impact while increasing green space and the aesthetics of the project," he said.
The developer has offered to install a traffic light on Route 53 and add turning lanes, Port said, to help reduce the traffic impact.
In addition to Target, the developer plans to expand the former Decathlon store and add a restaurant.
Another restaurant and an 18,000-square-foot store also would be built. The existing two-story office building would be retained and possibly converted to a bank.
Before construction may begin, the developer must get a variety of permits.
